Due to the coronavirus closures, in March digital payments plummeted by 33% on an annual basis, while in April it was even worse: -43,4%. The data is provided by nexi, which in the first two months of 2020 had instead recorded a growth in transactions of 5,4% on a trend basis. Between 2 and 8 May, the decline has been reduced to 25%, "showing the very first signs of a possible recovery in the various categories, to be confirmed in the coming weeks", reads the press release.
The company has also released the numbers relating to the first quarter, closed with a turnover down 0,5%, to 225,3 million e a gross operating margin up 3,9%, to 115 million. At the same time, i operating costs they decreased by 4,8% to 110,3 million.
In the wake of these numbers, at the beginning of the afternoon the stock of Nexi on the Stock Exchange increases its pace, achieving a rise of 3,8%, to 14,475 euros per share. In the same minutes, the Ftse Mib travels up by 1,1%.
As a already announced last month, Nexi has suspended financial guidance for 2020 and embarked on a cost and investment containment plan for a total value of more than 100 million.
"The actions envisaged by the plan - continues the press release - are aimed at mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on Ebitda and cash flow, providing for the containment of all types of costs and the rescheduling of some less strategic projects and investments" .
Last week Nexi – together with Ingenico Group, Nets and Worldline – announced that it was among the founders of Oedpia, the new European association that brings together the main European players in digital payments.
"The development of digital payments - says Paolo Bertoluzzo, CEO of Nexi and vice president of Edpia - is a fundamental engine for innovation, modernization and growth in Europe, with a strong and positive social, economic and environmental impact".
